When Bridgitte first joined YMS in 2017, it was eye-opening. Growing up in a Sydney family full of professional HIP musicians (her mum is a historical flute and recorder specialist), Bridgitte was very familiar with playing music as it was originally heard – that is, up until around 1800 or so.

“I never knew that HIP extended through to the Classical and Romantic eras,” Bridgitte explains. “At YMS I found fulfilment in the fresh ideas that I was being exposed to under the expert guidance of Rachael Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen.”

One thing led to another, and now Bridgitte has a Bachelor of Music degree (specialising in HIP) under her belt, as well as three YMS academies and professional experience. She’s also an educator, heading off to Tamworth to teach this year, and deeply interested in how people come to learn HIP – “at the tertiary level, it’s largely due to high quality educational programs run by ensembles like ARCO.”

In her spare time, Bridgitte also sings and plays piano, recorder and percussion, does Baroque dance and loves swimming. Oh, and she has a four-year streak on Duolingo, learning French and Norwegian – which might come in handy when she goes for her goal of pursuing a Masters in music performance.

Bridgitte’s also very excited to be part of the Australian premiere of Mendelssohn's version of the St Matthew Passion.

“The Passion is such an integral part of every historical musician's experience, and I am keen to learn more about how Mendelssohn has transformed this epic work into 19th-century style.”

If you have any stereotyped notions of violinists, prepare to shed them now. Paul Bae-Hwang is an accomplished violinist, yes – but he’s also a science graduate and gamer; has been a business development manager, IT tech and bartender; and loves fixing computers, mixing cocktails and driving fast cars.

He’s also lived on three continents, having been born in South Korea, emigrated to the U.S. and then to Australia for high school. But he’d never thought of pursuing music as a career until an arm injury right before his VCE almost took away his ability to play at all.

“This is what sparked me to continue with music as well continue pursuing my other interests in the STEM field,” says Paul, who intends to continue playing and performing, and pursue a Ph.D.

That thirst for knowledge also found a home in historically informed performance – and specifically, YMS.

“HIP speaks to me as I like that ‘raw’ form of music in comparison to today’s modern interpretation of works,” says Paul. “It’s refreshing to explore it in its untouched form using earlier musical conventions. At YMS I always learn new expressive devices to convey vivid colours and stories.”

As a 2025 Emerging Artist, Paul’s particularly looking forward to performing in the Sydney Opera House and gathering insight and experience from expert ARCO professionals.

“I haven’t travelled to Sydney in 15 years, so I’m excited about that too,” he says.

Johnny Kelly began learning the violin a month before his fourth birthday, and hasn’t looked back since. Growing up on Norfolk Island in a family of musicians, he moved to Brisbane when he was 12, and has been a part of YMS since 2021.

“I love HIP because of the expressive freedom that it allows,” Johnny explains. “Its connection to rhetoric and oratory fascinates me, and this connection has enhanced my understanding of music as a means of communication.”

He’s particularly excited about the St Matthew Passion: Bach is his favourite composer, and ARCO his favourite orchestra!

“I know I will learn so much through rehearsing and performing with ARCO professionals, who have given me so much exceptional mentoring through YMS,” he says. “I always leave with lots of new ideas to implement into my playing.”

Johnny also loves the organ, having received a scholarship last year to study with Phillip Gearing, and hopes to balance a career in both instruments after he finishes his degree at the University of Queensland.

Tim Li thinks beyond a single violin line: He’s an accomplished organist, arranges and improvises music, and has already launched and directed his own orchestra.

But there is always something new to learn, and for Tim, YMS has offered that opportunity.

“YMS is an amazing program that adds to my toolbox on ways to approach every corner of the repertoire in and out of ensembles,” he says. “That’s where I found HIP creates an immediately natural sense of excitement that is quite inspiring.”

Tim will join other YMS Emerging Artists on violin to play alongside ARCO’s professionals in the Bach/Mendelssohn St Matthew Passion in April – another brand-new experience.

“This will be my first performance as part of an orchestra performing with a choir,” Tim explains. “Especially working with different instrument setups and tuning. I am really looking forward it!”

Currently studying violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Tim’s goals are to keep working as an organist and creating fun chamber orchestra projects.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Alex Arthur tried a couple of instruments (percussion, violin) before settling on viola – and he still brings the same wide-ranging curiosity to music and the rest of his life! Currently studying computer science at the University of Queensland, he combines viola gigs with choir singing, recorder playing, rock climbing and film photography.

As a YMS Academy veteran, Alex also loves the discovery that HIP brings to old music.

“A good historically informed performance brings an energy and intrigue that is much more rarely found in modern performances, and to be surrounded by other musicians intent on creating the same energy is always a delight,” Alex says. “YMS has helped me discover the beauty of playing on gut strings, of adjusting articulation and ornamentation to suit the music, and of allowing the music itself to shape my performance of it.”

The St Matthew Passion adds a whole other layer to that: learning from many HIP professionals all at once.

“I am so excited to be surrounded by musicians of such high calibre, and to also be playing such fantastic music,” says Alex.

India Culey is a longtime YMS violist who has two very different ways to understand the world: music and science. Currently pursuing a double major at the University of Sydney in music (Sydney Conservatorium) and physics, India loves HIP as it also offers great potential for discovery.

“HIP brings discovery of the historical context, of the different ways a piece has been interpreted since it was written, of the different ways we can play it,” she explains. “I enjoy taking inspiration from performers of the past and making my own meaning out of the music.”

Having grown up in Western Sydney, India’s looking forward to doing future studies in Europe after she graduates, including HIP performances. She’s keen to learn from HIP experts during her Emerging Artist experience.

“I hope to see how professionals work with each other and communicate with each other in the HIP industry,” says India.

But it’s also about the joy that HIP brings to music.

“YMS has taught me how music is much more than just the notes on the page, and encompasses both the physical and emotional,” she says. “It has taught me to take liberties with music in order to express meaning through it.”

For Gabriel Fromhyr, YMS was the highlight – and a turning point – of his entire musical student experience growing up in the Yass Valley in the ACT.

“I hadn’t previously done any music camps, let alone HIP ones,” explains Gabriel. “YMS was also the first time I was involved in a music community outside of Canberra, getting to know like-minded musicians my own age.”

But Gabriel has been a HIP fan since the beginning. “I’ve always been fascinated by the history of music,” he says. “I love the feeling and sound of playing on gut strings and the endless ways HIP can be applied to music. I wouldn’t want to be labelled a baroque cellist, though, because I’m just as passionate about playing Dvorak on gut strings as I am for Bach.”

Which is a good thing, because the St Matthew Passion, which Gabriel will play in as a YMS Emerging Artist, combines Bach and Mendelssohn!

“Since first watching ARCO play live, I have thought it would be amazing to play with ARCO one day, and I’m very excited this is actually happening!” says Gabriel, who has just completed his B.Mus.A. with honours and is freelancing on modern and HIP cello, as well as composing.

Outside of music Gabriel enjoys spending time outdoors: camping, travel, road trips, fishing and hiking.

“I also enjoy the odd DIY work on my old car!” he smiles.

“YMS is a truly unique program, offering knowledge rarely touched in schools or private instrumental lessons,” says Lena. “YMS academies are authentic HIP immersion music days, allowing all orchestra members to move back in time and play in totally different ways.”

Lena, 17, is heading into Year 12 at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in Melbourne. She’ll attend AYO National Summer Camp, and spend the year preparing for university studies, hoping eventually to travel and study violin in Europe.

For Lena, the freedom HIP brings is transformative.

“I love HIP because it allows me to experiment with ornamentation, movement and really bringing that energy out to giving joy to the audience and a sense of liberty to the interpretation,” she says.

As well as joining her colleagues in a trio by 18th-century Czech composer Johann Baptist Vanhal, Lena will play the first movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.3 in G major.

Says Lena: “I love playing Mozart – his works conveys a timeless beauty through incredible musicality and melody.”

Lena also loves singing Mozart (she’s a member of the VCASS choir, and has sung with the Australian Girls Choir) and is also passionate about studying French.

Music has also played a big part in her language learning – her first language was Polish, and she learned English by watching Play School on TV and singing along to “There’s a Bear in There” by Australian composer Richard Connolly.

“I'm excited to be a part of Peninsula Summer Music Festival and to perform solo and in chamber ensemble with my friends,” Lena says.

For Neil Wang, viola, the YMS Emerging Artist program – like the Academies themselves – brings an exciting chance to perform pieces he loves with a new and fresh perspective.

“Through YMS I have discovered different and unique ways to approach pieces which broadened my previous focus from the dots on the page to the musical character and emotion the pieces are trying to convey,” says Neil.

Having recently completed his secondary studies at Scotch College, Melbourne, Neil is now headed for Sydney to begin his Bachelor of Music studies at the Conservatorium there. Having completed two YMS Academies and the ARCO Scotch College Festival, he is also a member of the Australian Conducting Academy and conductor of the Combined Schools Orchestra. Eventually he hopes to complete a Masters degree in Europe, whether on viola or conducting.

A lifelong Melburnian, he also loves building with LEGO, and meeting fellow musicians through YMS.

At the YMS Emerging Artists concert at the Peninsula Festival, Neil will perform the first movement of Glinka’s Viola Sonata in D minor, as well as the Vanhal Trio for Violin, Viola and Double Bass.

Jude Hill comes from a musical family, and grew up with HIP.

“Most of the CDs I listened to and concerts I went to were on period instruments,” says Jude. “I enjoy discovering the intimate knowledge composers had of the instruments and how they have used these to create characters.”

A lifelong Melburnian accustomed to traveling by tram with his bass, Jude is soon moving to Sydney to pursue a Masters in Music Performance at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

At the Peninsula Festival, Jude will perform the second and third movements of the Concerto No.2 for double bass by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, a Viennese composer and friend of Haydn and Mozart. He’ll play on a Viennese bass, a five-string instrument using a D major-based string tuning common in the Classical era.

“I am excited to share the Viennese Bass,” Jude says. “The resonance of the instrument is vibrant and open sounding. It brings a sense of ease to the music.”

At home, Jude’s dog is also excited about the bass – particularly since Jude started playing on gut strings.

“He thinks they smell very good!” says Jude. “I have to keep the door closed at all times to avoid any munching. But he’s a very cute little cavoodle who loves to play along with his squeaky toy.”

Overall, though, YMS been a gift for Jude.

“YMS has given me the opportunity to have ensemble experience on period instruments,” he says. “I’ve been very lucky to have such wonderful tutors. I love being able to watch and copy how they play, and they are so generous with their time, giving very tailored feedback.”

On tour Luke learned the ins and outs of backstage management. Outside of the tour, Luke attended weekly meetings, contributing helpful and insightful ideas and perspectives.

At the YMS VIC Intensive Luke helped with operations as well as playing the second bassoon part on baroque trombone (sackbut), learning alongside the other students and presenting an educational demonstration of the instrument.

“Being an avid performer and advocate of historical instrumentation, I was looking to intern with an ensemble that facilitated both historically informed practice in their professional performances as well as an education element to teach younger students the playing styles of early music,” says Luke. “It wasn’t a tough decision, as ARCO included all of these elements and more, helping me learn the intricacies of running a historically informed small-medium orchestra in Australia. Having worked with ARCO has been one of my biggest highlights of this year, and I will cherish the time spent interning with them!”

Luke looks forward to finishing his undergraduate degree with honours early next year and hopes to pursue a mixture of education and early music in his career ahead.

During her time as an undergraduate, Issie’s musicianship has been recognised with various prizes: winner of the Richard Pollett String Prize (2021) and 4MBS Musica Viva Sid Page Chamber Music Prize with Viridian Piano Quartet (2022), as well as runner-up in the Sleath String Performance Prize (2022). As a soloist, she has performed Bruch Violin Concerto with Indooroopilly Chamber Orchestra (2023) and appeared frequently in the Queensland Youth Orchestras Morning Music Recital Series. Issie was awarded her AMusA in Violin Performance during her Year 12 studies at Somerville House (2018).

An engaged orchestral player, she has in recent years held positions of Associate Principal Second Violin and Principal Second Violin in Queensland Youth Symphony; Associate Principal Second Violin, Principal Second Violin and Associate Concertmaster in the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra; and Principal Second Violin in University of Queensland Pulse Chamber Orchestra. Further, she was accepted into the Australian Youth Orchestra's 2023 National Music Camp, where she played second violin in the Landa Chamber Orchestra under the direction of violinist Elizabeth Layton. 

Issie enjoys researching and writing about music. Her Honours thesis, for which she received the Donald Tugby Musicology Prize (2022), examined thematic syntax in Felix Mendelssohn’s concerto forms using analytical models from a recent nineteenth-century branch of New Formenlehre. She is also fascinated by the French language and is studying a Diploma of Languages majoring in Advanced French.

During her time as an undergraduate, Issie’s musicianship has been recognised with various prizes: winner of the Richard Pollett String Prize (2021) and 4MBS Musica Viva Sid Page Chamber Music Prize with Viridian Piano Quartet (2022), as well as runner-up in the Sleath String Performance Prize (2022). As a soloist, she has performed Bruch Violin Concerto with Indooroopilly Chamber Orchestra (2023) and appeared frequently in the Queensland Youth Orchestras Morning Music Recital Series. Issie was awarded her AMusA in Violin Performance during her Year 12 studies at Somerville House (2018).

An engaged orchestral player, she has in recent years held positions of Associate Principal Second Violin and Principal Second Violin in Queensland Youth Symphony; Associate Principal Second Violin, Principal Second Violin and Associate Concertmaster in the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra; and Principal Second Violin in University of Queensland Pulse Chamber Orchestra. Further, she was accepted into the Australian Youth Orchestra's 2023 National Music Camp, where she played second violin in the Landa Chamber Orchestra under the direction of violinist Elizabeth Layton. 

Issie enjoys researching and writing about music. Her Honours thesis, for which she received the Donald Tugby Musicology Prize (2022), examined thematic syntax in Felix Mendelssohn’s concerto forms using analytical models from a recent nineteenth-century branch of New Formenlehre. She is also fascinated by the French language and is studying a Diploma of Languages majoring in Advanced French.

From a young age, Jared was a keen participant in many different festivals and events, studying and performing chamber music on both violin and viola under Gabriel Bolkowski at PhoenixPhest Chamber Music Festival in 2013, and successfully auditioning into several district orchestras in Northern Virginia, USA. Throughout high school, Jared continued to seek out opportunities and learning experiences, having participated in orchestras all throughout his studies, eventually becoming concertmaster of the School Orchestra and the Alastair Mackerras Chamber Orchestra at Sydney Grammar School from 2018-2019. Jared also successfully auditioned to be concertmaster of the Australian Combined Schools Music Festival Orchestra, and the Young Mannheim Symphonists Winter Academy, the latter of which kickstarted his interest in historically informed performance. In Year 12, he received Encore Nominations for both Composition and Performance, and ranked 3rd in NSW for HSC Music Extension.

After graduating in 2019, Jared entered the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra as a tutti player and has since performed with them as principal second violin and concertmaster. At the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Jared was awarded the Jean Giles and Thomas Louis Pidcock Violin Scholarship and has participated in a number of orchestral programs ranging from string and symphonic orchestras to the Early Music Ensemble with Erin Helyard and Neal Perez da Costa, which he led in 2021. Throughout university, his orchestral career has continued to grow, performing as an Emerging Artist with both the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra and the Australian Haydn Ensemble, as a tutti player on national tours with ARCO and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and leading the 2nd Violins in the Landa Chamber Orchestra at AYO National Music Camp in 2023. Aside from pursuing early music, he also enjoys exploring modern repertoire, workshopping and performing new solo and chamber works composed by his peers, and in 2022, leading the New Music Ensemble at the Sydney Conservatorium. 

Rio started playing the double bass in 2014 as part of her school’s instrumental program. During her time in Tasmania, she studied with the principal double bassist of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Thomson from 2018. In 2019 Rio completed her grade 8 AMEB exam with high distinction and was awarded the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Association Award for the most outstanding player. She has been part of programs such as the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra Young Mannheim Symphonists in 2018 and 2019, Australian Youth Orchestra since 2019 and the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy in 2020. In 2021 Rio was the principal double bass player of the Bishop Orchestra at the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp. 

As a freelance performer, she has performed with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir Orchestra, Salut! Baroque, CDP Theatres, and The Concertante Ensemble.

When she is not busy unearthing hidden musical gems of the viola, Suzie is inspiring and guiding the next generation as a classroom teacher. Her involvements have included classroom music teaching in both High Schools and Primary Schools, tutoring and assistant conductor roles within the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, Department of Education: The Arts Unit, viola tutor for The Regional Youth Orchestra, working alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia Orchestra.

Suzie’s passion with HIP and education allows her to share a different perspective of playing and interpretation to younger musicians, providing an open-minded approach towards music. Building up prospective musicians to ensures this musical culture continues for the next generation.